Attitudes of residents towards tourism. The case of Benalmadena, Spain

Abstract

Tourism is consumed in the place of production causing a series of impacts. These effects caused by tourism can be perceived positively or negatively by residents. The objective of this study is to analyze the attitude of the residents from the impacts of tourism in the town of Benalmádena, Spanish town that is located within the Costa del Sol. We used a quantitative methodology and we have carried out an extensive survey of 770 residents. Information has been collected through questionnaires and there have been exploratory and ANOVA analysis. The results are: the economic benefits are the most important elements sought and valued by the local population. However, they also recognize the negative effects of this dimension, in the same way as with the socio-cultural and environmental impacts.This study is to analyze the attitude of the residents from the impacts of tourism in the town of Benalmádena, Spanish. This is a mature destination framed in a pattern of sun and beach in 2012 has a total of 10,885 hotel places. Benalmádena tourism has a significant oscillation throughout the year, peaking in the months of July to September and the minimum between December and February.